Sunday, 10 July 2016


Here is a story from the archives.....

From the Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton) Thursday 16th June 1938

EMERALD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

At the last meeting of the Emerald Chamber of Commerce Mr H. Penrose presided over the following attendance:

Messrs W. Daniels, G. Gall, J. W. A. Common, N. Mclnnes, L. Mattingly, L. J. McCosker, A. R. Clarke, R. Ward, P. P. Kelly, R. B. Dunlop, and B. Davis (secretary).

It was decided that a letter of appreciation be posted to the Emerald Shire Council for the prompt attention given to the Chamber's request for attention to the silent cops.

After some discussion it was arranged to appoint a delegate to be present at the Rockhampton Chamber of Commerce Conference and that a sub-committee be appointed to draw up a list of business matters to be submitted to the conference. Mr L. J. McCosker was appointed the delegate, and Messrs Kelly, Ward, McCosker, and Clarke were nominated to arrange the agenda.

Mr Mattingly stated that he had gone into the matter of a daylight train from Emerald, and he was given to understand that it would not be workable.

Notice of motion was given by Mr Penrose that the day and time of the meeting of the Chamber be altered.

The necessity of the road from Longreach to Rockhampton being put in first-class order, was the subject of discussion, following a letter from Mr Foley in connexion with the road. Mr Ward said that repairs to the road were an absolute necessity and he moved that Mr Foley be written to and advised that, in view of the result of the conference at Longreach, this Chamber wholeheartedly supported the decision arrived at the conference, which indicated the importance of the road. There was a vast sum of money collected annually in motor tax from the people using this road and it was felt the money should be spent in the locality.

Seconding the motion, Mr P. P. Kelly said that the Chamber as a body and the people living in the West were too tolerant. They should demand the road and point out that it was overdue and that unless the request was attended to in a reasonable time, drastic measures should be taken, such as refusing to pay registration. Too many of these requests were pigeonholed. The people had been sleeping too long, but if they proposed to take drastic action they would get something done.

Mr Ward said he thought that a copy of the motion should be sent to every Chamber and Progress Association in the Central West. 

The motion was carried.

Mr McCosker said that the Nogoa traffic bridge was very dangerous, more especially at the turns. The amount of traffic which crossed the bridge warranted a two-way traffic bridge. He moved that the Chamber write to the council on the matter. Mr W. Daniels made reference to the necessity of a footbridge or a subway to connect the north end south sides of the railway. It would prove more convenient for the public.

Members of the Chamber expressed surprise when they discovered that there was no resident dentist in Emerald. It was universally considered by all present that there was a good opening and it was ascertained that one dentist was considering the advisability of opening at Emerald. Eventually a motion was carried that, in the event of this dentist changing his mind, the Chamber advertise in the Press pointing out the good opening in Emerald.

The necessity of an extra clerk in the Emerald Post Office was the subject of much discussion, find a motion was carried that Mr Forde and the Postal Department be approached requesting that a relieving man be appointed to the Emerald Post Office until such time as a permanent appointment could be made.

Mr Common said that he would like to see the districts weather reports put up outside the Post Office every morning, also the temperature recordings.

The current President of the Emerald Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Victor Cominos said that whilst quite a number of issues have been addressed by the government there are still matters that are of great concern to the residents of Central and Western Queensland.

Mr. Cominos a chamber member of over 50 years said, “I can recall going to meetings and conferences where resolutions were passed repeatedly urging the governments of the day to bring about the much needed infrastructure”.

One such resolution was for the sealing of the road from Rockhampton to Longreach. Another was for the improvement of air services. The list is quite long.  

(Ph: 07 4982 3444)

 

No comments:

Post a Comment